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+--- Thread: 17 header corrosion (/showthread.php?tid=14834)
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17 header corrosion - Boynton6spd - 07-13-2026
Looking at a 17ex next week, it looks nice in pics but the header is heavily corroded. Has 15k miles on it.
Can the corrosion be polished away?
RE: 17 header corrosion - Cormanus - 07-13-2026
Are there pictures we can look at?
RE: 17 header corrosion - Gone in 60 - 07-14-2026
Welcome, Boynton6spd!
The '17 has chrome-clad headers, correct? If so, that's chrome, and if it's rusted, it would probably not polish to perfect, but as well as rusty chrome would clean up.
Pictures would really help.
RE: 17 header corrosion - suhawk305 - 07-14-2026
Welcome to the forum Boyton6spd. Is the CB1100 EX you are considering?
https://ebay.io/m/Jfs47R
RE: 17 header corrosion - Boynton6spd - 07-14-2026
(07-14-2026, 02:14 PM)suhawk305 Wrote: Welcome to the forum Boyton6spd. Is the CB1100 EX you are considering?
https://ebay.io/m/Jfs47R
Yes, that’s it
RE: 17 header corrosion - rdprdp01 - 07-14-2026
Welcome to the forum Boyton6spd. Make yourself at home.
I suspect suhawk305 has identified the motorcycle. See chrome exhaust photo:
![[Image: 7loFp7w.png]](https://i.imgur.com/7loFp7w.png)
These pipes will never be perfect again, but they can definitely be made presentable.
The Road Gunk: The dark, dusty, and baked-on speckled texture covering the lower bends looks like road grime, kicked-up tar, and salt that has been "baked" onto the metal by high exhaust temperatures. This gunk sits on top of the chrome and can be removed with time, patience, good products, and some serious elbow grease.
The Pitting: The black pinpricks at the edges of the dirty patches (where the speckled pattern breaks up) are almost certainly tiny pits in the chrome. When road salt and moisture sit on hot chrome, they "eat" through the chrome layer to the steel base, causing it to oxidize (rust). These physical craters cannot be polished out. The only true fix is re-chroming, which is incredibly expensive and increasingly hard to find due to environmental regulations.
The step-by-step routine below will make the absolute best of a bad situation. Will the chrome be perfect? No. But if you clean them up and take pictures in soft, indirect light, they will look great. From 6 feet away, the blemishes will not be seen unless you are actively looking for them or a bright light is shining on the headers.
If you decide to purchase the motorcycle, here is a possible plan to get the exhaust to a presentable state:
Initial Wash: Wash gently with Dawn dishwashing detergent and warm water using a microfiber cloth to remove loose grit.
Heavy Polish: Clean and refine the finish with Chemical Guys' Heavy Metal Polish.
Fine Polish: Clean and refine the finish with Chemical Guys' Light Metal Polish.
Repeat: Apply the Light Metal Polish to any stubborn areas until the remaining gunk is gone.
Final Buff: Using a clean microfiber, hand-polish to a nice, even shine. Expect to spend about 30–60 minutes using elbow grease to get the best possible result.
Maintenance: Keep the exhaust clean going forward so moisture and road grime does not sit on those newly exposed micro-pits and cause further rusting.
Hope this helps you make a more informed decision on the purchase! David
RE: 17 header corrosion - Nachodaddy - 07-15-2026
Welcome to the Forum. Unless it is a great deal, I'd walk away from this one. If you do get it, before any polishing, I would try a small amount of Naval Jelly in an inconspicuous spot. I have had good success with it on spots like this. These look pretty bad. Good luck!
RE: 17 header corrosion - peterbaron - 07-15-2026
From the pics, I would not buy it either, but I am picky
RE: 17 header corrosion - Gone in 60 - 07-15-2026
Depends on how much cosmetics mean to you. No doubt it’s been stored outside so for sure there’s lots more corrosion you can’t see in the pics.
If all you want is a runner then maybe, but that tends to not be what this bike is about.
RE: 17 header corrosion - MagnaRider - 07-15-2026
Price also seems high for a bike in this condition with no extras really